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Leaf & Nature Prints
The garden is the art supply shop - and it's completely free
6/22/20262 min read
There is something quietly magical about taking something from the natural world and pressing it into paint to reveal its hidden pattern. Leaf printing is one of those crafts that surprises children every single time - the moment they lift the leaf and see the veins and edges perfectly transferred onto paper, the delight is completely genuine. It's simple enough for very young toddlers and interesting enough to keep older children completely absorbed. And the art supply shop is just outside the back door.
Why This Activity Works for Little Ones
Nature printing connects children to the natural world in a direct, hands-on way. They begin to notice leaves, look at their shapes, feel their textures, and understand that each one is different. The printing process itself is excellent for developing hand pressure awareness and fine motor control. And the results are genuinely beautiful - nature prints made by toddlers often look like something you'd frame, because the natural world is already perfectly designed.
Activity Details
Age Range: 18 months – 3 years
Time: 30–45 minutes
Mess Level: Moderate - cover the table and wear an apron! 🍃
Supervision: Active supervision
What You'll Need
A collection of leaves in different shapes and sizes - gathered together beforehand
Washable paint in several colours
A foam brush or small roller to apply paint to leaves
A protective table covering
Baby wipes for quick hand cleanup
How To Do It
Go on a leaf gathering walk together first - this is part of the activity and children love it!
Lay paper on a flat, protected surface.
Apply a thin layer of paint to the underside of a leaf (the veined side gives the best print).
Press the painted leaf firmly onto the paper, paint side down.
Cover with a piece of scrap paper and press firmly all over.
Carefully peel the leaf away to reveal the print.
Repeat with different leaves and colours to build a beautiful composition.
Allow to dry flat before displaying.
Kim's Tips 💕
The underside of the leaf (with the raised veins) gives a much more detailed, beautiful print than the top.
Press firmly and evenly - using a piece of scrap paper on top and pressing with a rolling pin gives beautiful results.
Try overlapping prints in different colours for a really stunning effect.
Autumn leaves in warm tones printed in gold and rust make the most beautiful seasonal art.
Gather a few extra leaves so you have backups - some prints work better than others and that's all part of the fun.
What You'll Need
Washable paint sets, foam rollers, thick art paper and protective table covers are all on my Amazon storefront - everything for a beautiful nature printing session.
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This post is part of my Toddlers Hub- packed with ideas for babies to 3 year olds.
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With love, Kim xx
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